Free The Bandit Princess by J. Roberts Page B

Pearl?”
    “She’s a kid.”
    “Why do you stay with this gang, Dave?”
    “Because Belle’s comin’ back,” Dave said, “and I’m gonna be here when she does.”
    “You in love with Belle, Dave?” Randy asked. “You in love with Pearl’s ma?”
    “Don’t be an ass, Green,” Dave said. “Get away from me.”
    Randy walked away from Dave, wondered if he should go over to the house, then decided against it. Hunter and Pearl were probably eating, and if they weren’t, he didn’t want to know what they were doing.

TWENTY-SIX
     
     
     
    Del and Tate tied their supplies onto the packhorse, mounted up, and rode out of Whitfield. Tate was leading the horse.
    Clint and Alice stepped from their doorway and trailed along behind on foot until they reached the point where they had secreted their horses.
    “They’re not going to be able to go very fast,” Clint said as they mounted up.
    “What abut the ferry?”
    “Same as last time,” Clint said. “They go first, and then us.”
    “And what about that man, Abner?” she asked.
    “What about him?”
    “What if he tells them we’re following him?”
    “Well,” Clint said, “when we’re on the ferry, I’ll ask him if he told them.”
    “And he’ll tell you the truth?”
    “Oh yeah,” Clint said. “He’ll tell me the truth.”
    They reached the ferry in time to see it going across the Canadian River with Del, Tate, and their three horses on board.
    They waited until the men had left the ferry and ridden on before riding down to the dock to await the boat’s return.
    When Abner Brassfield reached the dock and saw Clint and Alice there, he didn’t look happy.
    “Good to see you, Abner,” Clint said as they walked their horses on.
    “Sir.”
    He closed the door, pushed off, and got the ferry going.
    “Abner, the deputy here is worried that you might have said something to those two men about us looking for them.”
    Abner ducked his head and didn’t answer.
    “Did you, Abner?” Clint pushed.
    Grudgingly, Abner said, “No, I didn’t.”
    “Of course you know, if I find out you did—”
    “I didn’t, damn it!” Abner swore. “I tol’ you.”
    “I believe you, Abner,” Clint said, “but the deputy is the one wearing the badge. You have to convince her.”
    Abner looked at Alice, then at Clint.
    “I ain’t afeared of her,” he said.
    “What about me?” Clint asked. “Are you afraid of me?”
    “Yeah,” Abner said, “yeah, I’m afraid of you.”
    Clint looked at Alice.
    “Are you afraid of Pearl Starr and her men?” she asked him.
    “No, I ain’t afeared of them.”
    “Why not?” she asked.
    “Pearl’s just a kid,” Abner said, “and her men are . . . idiots.”
    “All of them?”
    “All but one.”
    “Which one is that?” Clint asked.
    Abner didn’t answer.
    “Hunter?”
    Abner looked at him.
    “You know already?”
    “I know a lot, Abner,” Clint said. “Remember that. So Hunter’s the only one you’re afraid of?”
    “I used ta be.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “He used ta be wild.”
    “And now he’s not?”
    Abner shook his head.
    “Why?”
    “Pearl’s tamed ’im,” Abner said. “He’s in love with her.”
    “So she controls him?”
    “She controls the others,” he said. “Hunter Holcomb, she’s got hold of him, but I wouldn’t say she controls him.”
    “Now Abner, this is an important question,” Clint said. “Do you know where Pearl and her men are?”
    “Out there, somewhere,” Abner said, waving ahead of them. “Out on Belle’s land.”
    “And what about Belle?” Alice asked. “Where is she?”
    “I don’t know,” Abner said. “Nobody knows. Ain’t seen her since Sam got killed.”
    They rode the rest of the way in silence, and then Abner let them off the ferry.
    “Don’t know if I’ll ever see you again, Abner,” Clint said. “Guess that depends on what happens from now on.”
    “I don’t think we’ll be seein’ each other, sir,” Abner said. But he